Finding ‘me’ again.

Hi folks,

Wow I hadn’t realised just how long it had been since I last wrote a post. I really do not know where the time is going. This year seems to be flying by. I’m just so happy that restrictions are easing & that things seem to be getting back to some kind of normality.

Over the last 8 month I feel like I’ve been on a bit of a journey to finding ‘me’ again. I can officially say that I have now lost 4 stone 8lbs since September 2020. I can’t just blame the lockdowns or the pandemic for my weight gain… I’ve been steadily gaining since having Seth, my oldest. He’s now 5 years old. So for just over 4 year I have been gaining weight. It’s easy to lose yourself a bit I think, to parenthood. I love being a Mammy so much. My whole being is just focussed on my boys. And in doing that… I just forgot about me. Rather than looking after my self the way I should… I allowed myself to fall into bad habits with food.

I had a massive wake up call at the end of August 2020 when my hubster took some photo’s & I just hated what I saw… I just hated that I’d allowed myself to creep up to a size 20 at 17 stone 7lbs. Even at 5ft 7′ tall… I couldn’t carry it off. And I was starting to really experience pain in my lower back & my right leg that I’ve had rebuilt. In that moment – I knew I needed to change. But I also knew that I couldn’t go back to Slimming World. For personal reasons… Slimming World is not a healthy group for me to be around.

After some research I decided that Calorie Deficit was the way forward. I didn’t need to eliminate any food groups – I could literally eat what I wanted in moderation. After trying a few apps to help me along the way to track calories & activity, I found the PERFECT one! Nutracheck It’s so user friendly. It connects to my FitBit so it updates all of my activity levels. The catalogue of food on the app is amazing & its constantly being updated.

I have the app set to lose 1lb per week. I’m aiming for slow steady loses that I can maintain in the long term. I’m currently in a size 14… I feel so much healthier.

I feel so much fitter in general. I can do so much more activity with my boys. I’ve even found a new passion & love for hiking!!! As someone who has had their right leg rebuilt & had intense physio to walk again… I never ever thought I’d be wearing hiking boots. I’m working toward climbing Snowden & then the Three Peaks. I could cry just writing that! I feel like a whole new me!

It’s exciting to be able to say that I have less that 2 stone to go until I hit my goal now. I’m aiming for 11 stone. Ideally I want to be a size 10/12. 11 stone for my height is perfect. I’m currently having between 1500-1600 calories daily. I’m generally only drinking alcohol on a weekend, unless it’s a special occasion etc… Over this weight loss journey I’ve allowed myself daily treats such as chocolate. I’ve also had take out, cake etc… I’m just being mindful in my choices & trying to stick within my calorie allowances. I really do not feel restricted at all.

I’m enjoying cooking so much more these days… everything just looks so bright & colourful & pretty!

I feel like food is delicious & exciting again. It’s not just the same old beige food out of the freezer. Plus I feel like I’m finally being a good a healthy role model for my boys. The boys have so much energy & being able to go for walks every day with them is amazing. Enjoying exercise is something I never thought I’d be able to say.

I use a lot of the Spicentice meal kits. They’re utterly delicious, easy to use & they’re such a great price. If you use the code: IXXYP10 at checkout you can get 10% off. Also, there is no limit on how many times you use my code.

I’ll be blogging more frequently about my journey to a healthier me to keep you all updated on my progress. This isn’t a quick fix for me… this a total life make over.

Thanks so much as always for reading for always being super supportive!

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

Lockdown Learning

Hi folks,

I can’t believe that the academic year has come to an end & we’re now into the Summer Holidays. I feel so sad that Seth didn’t get to say a proper goodbye to his Pre-School Teachers & Class Mates. We found out last week who his new Reception Class Teacher would be & which of his friends would be in his class. Seth is so excited to get back to school in September. He just loves to learn.

We’ve been doing lots of fun learning activities over lockdown & I think we’ll be carrying them on into the Summer Holidays too. Learning is much easier when its fun!

We had another lovely delivery of goodies from Best Learning.

My Learning Board iPoster  is utterly fantastic! It’s perfect for helping with Spelling, Writing & Counting. It’s interactive with touch technology & you can also use the wipeable pen too. There is 12 separate learning activities already built in. It’s perfect for fun learning games together. Lots of fun sounds & songs will keep your little ones entertained for hours. We’ve had so much fun with this lovely interactive toy. You can also hang it on a wall, perfect for a play room, study area or kids bedroom. The integrated calculator is great too… Seth thinks it’s magic.

Inno Pad: Smart Fun Lessons. This is such an amazing compact toy. It comes with 16 separate learning pages that slide into the Inno Pad for different learning experiences. The pages themselves are made from durable plastic… meaning they’re sturdy but also can be wiped clean. Skills that can be learned include alphabet, numbers, time, colours, fruits, shapes, animals, the weather, emotions, professions, music, various transportation & problem solving. The learning levels range from basic to advanced. This is toy is great for travel… it’s really lightweight & slimline. It’ll be great for travelling when we go to visit family etc…

Seth loves problem solving & having quizzes, so he’s had so much fun playing with it. It’s great for a childs development, as well as promoting creativity. We’ve had fun playing this together, but Seth also like independent play & learning. He can off & play with this & figure it all out for himself.

Magic Puzzle Globe. This lovely little globe comes in 26 pieces with a little stand. We did have to help Seth with putting this together. It’s been great though for helping Seth with basic geography. Seth is only 4 years old, but he’s utterly obsessed with asking where each country is in relation to the United Kingdom. So this has been such a great learning aid.

Our magic Puzzle Globe lives in Seth’s room, because he loves to go over to it & find all of his favourite countries. I just love the wonder & amazement on his little face when he looks & then finds different places.

“Play is the highest form of research” – Albert Einstein.

If you would like to read a little more about the toys we’ve reviewed – please click the highlight text.

Thanks so much for reading.

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

Everything is Easier With Sleep!

Hi Folks,

Happy New Year! Sorry its been a wee while since my last blog post. It’s been a very busy few months! I wanted my first blog post of 2020 to be more like my older blog posts… back to basics. More info, tips, advice & general rants about surviving day to day as a stay at home – work from home Mama.

I’ve been joking for a long time now that I’ll one day write a book on the bedtime routine I use for the boys, as they both sleep. I’m constantly being asked what my secret is. But to be honest… I have no idea lol. So… I thought I’d share with you all, what we do each evening. I don’t do anything magical, but, you mind find something you’ve not tried. Or, I might be just doing the same as everyone else.

I love reading blogs & I get a lot of my fave tips from other parenting blogs. So hopefully… I can pass some on to you too.

Firstly, I’d just like to say that I’m no guru or medical professional. This is only what we have personally implemented in our own home for our bedtime routine. 

Okay, so lets start right at the very beginning. Seth was born at 38wks via c-section. I was determined from day 1 to be this amazingly successful breast feeding Mama. That just didn’t go to plan. Within the first 6 days, Seth had lost over 14% of his body weight dropping from 8lbs to 6lbs 13oz. We were rushed into hospital – literally the worst day of my life. The guilt I felt was immense. That first week quite literally was sleep deprivation at it’s finest. I had Seth constantly on my boob & when he wasn’t attached to me – an electric breast pump was. I was emotional, recovering from major surgery, I felt guilt that I wasn’t providing for my baby & I felt let down by my breast feeding support nurse. Whilst in hospital Seth began to combination feed. With amazing support from my Husband, GP, Midwife, Health Visitor, Consultant & Paediatrician, I made the decision to stop breast feeding… I had zero milk. Still to this day – I struggle with the feelings of guilt & like I let Seth down in that first week of his life.

Once we were discharged from hospital, Seth gained weight steadily on formula. But, he struggled with extreme colic. It was horrendous. No matter what we did, he’d scream & scream. Even with the help of Infacol & a special milk, he’d struggle. We had a SnüzPod at the side of our bed as I just don’t like co-sleeping ( personal choice). But I’d say for a good 8 weeks, Seth slept upright on my chest or Grahams. It’d be the only way he’d settle. So it’d be hours upon hours of just sitting awake on a night in bed, so Seth could sleep & get relief from the colic. I remember on a morning, retching & throwing up from sheer exhaustion & my Mam telling me over the phone that she’d not heard of anyone dying from sleepless nights. Ah yes, just to add… both my family & Graham’s live quite a distance away from us. So we have no regular childcare or family just popping in to help.

After around 8 weeks, the colic settled, from then on, Seth would sleep 6hrs: Midnight to 6am. We used to class that as sleeping through the night. When you go from zero sleep to 6hrs right through, you feel like you’ve had a week at a spa retreat lol. Seth slept in his SnüzPod beside me until he was 5 & a half month old. He began to outgrow it at that point. So, he went into his own room in a full size cotbed. He looked so tiny. But he slept great & started to sleep from around 9pm to 6am, which was just amazing. At around 7 months old though, Seth started with partial awakening which lasted around 2-3 month. He would literally wake every 45mins screaming. All we could put it down to was teething. That was so hard. Functioning on such little sleep is tough. But, as a parent, you just want to comfort your baby. The only way they can communicate they’re hurting or they’re upset – is through crying. Thankfully, the partial awakening stopped as quick as it had started.

With Seth being our first, we had no experience of a sleep routine. Graham has always gotten home around 6pm/6:30pm, unless he has assessments to mark etc… then it could be much later. On occasion he does have nights away with work or through freelance work. But I’m always here with being able to work from home. We’d both agreed that we didn’t want bedtime to be negative or a battle ground. So, we have never ever used bed as a punishment. Neither of us agree with the cry it out method or self soothing method. I’ve also never let Seth nap in his room. When napping during the day, I’ve always let him nap downstairs. I just always wanted to keep the bedroom for bedtime to make a clear distinction between bed & nap. I’ve also been careful of danger naps… napping after 5pm has always been a no no, unless they’re poorly.

Seth’s routine from being 6 month has been:

• No napping beyond 5pm… so I’d wake him gently from a nap if he was napping late afternoon or, I’d keep him awake by playing etc…
• Teatime has always been around 4:30pm/5pm for the kids.
• Bathtime 6pm – we don’t do bath time every night as Seth has always had baby eczema. Again, this is just a personal choice. I’ve always found, that a bath later than 6:30pm is too stimulating & tends to keep them awake.
• CBeebies bedtime hour is always on in our house… PJs on, Milk & chill time. So we have no running around or loud toys from bedtime hour starting. Once bedtime hour is over – no more Kids TV. That has always been our rule. Kids TV is too stimulating, so nothing after 7pm. No tablets either & especially not in the bedroom. Again – that’s just personal choice.

Seth is now 3 years old & has gone to bed for 7pm since he was around 20 month old. We take him to bed, he has a wee, we read a story & that’s it. He goes to sleep. Obviously, as a baby, it wasn’t as simple as that. So, after the partial awakening had ended. We always gave Seth his bottle upstairs on our bed around 7:30pm. Then, we’d let him fall asleep in our arms & we’d carry him to bed. If he woke in the night, we’d give him a bottle in our room but with no lights on, no TV. Just keep it super boring. No talking etc… So he’d have the bottle & go back to bed.

One night, Graham was away in London & I took Seth up for his bottle. I lay with him on our bed & he was just looking at me, as if he was saying “well I ain’t sleeping here”… so I carried him to his room & put him in his cot. I took the monitor downstairs & I sat just watching him. I half expected him to cry as he was still awake… but he didn’t. He just lay there stroking his quilt & fell asleep! From that moment, we would give him a bottle & then put him in bed awake for him to nod off.

Still to this day, Seth has his little ambient blue night light plugged in so it’s not super dark. He loves his room & his bed. He’s now graduated to a big bunk bed – he sleeps on the bottom bunk as he’s only 3, we do have blackout blinds & black out curtains in his room – mainly for when it’s Summer. But he still likes his blue light on.

When Ted was born, we already had a good bedtime routine in place, so Ted just kind of fell in line with that.

At this point – I just want to point a few things out that we do:

• Both boys were bottle fed. Ted from day one as I didn’t want to try breast feeding in case I let down my baby all over again.
• Both boys have used soothers. Ted always goes to bed with a soother.
• I have always kept the cot free & empty of toys, bumpers etc… I never used a sleep/grow bag purely as both Seth or Ted would settle in them. So I always used cellular blankets & a tight fitted sheet on the mattress. Seth now takes his quillow to bed & Cub (his little Ikea Bear)
• Both boys have slept in a full size cotbed – so they’ve lots of space to stretch out. Seth had the sides off his cotbed from 23 month old & then he went into a full size single/bunk bed from age 3.
• During nap times, both boys have always napped downstairs.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/156200586@N06/44167779470/in/dateposted-public/

Nap times downstairs were a little bit of a mine field when Ted was first born. By this time Seth had outgrown day time naps & began going up to bed at 7pm. But Ted needed somewhere safe to nap. With a 2 & a half year old running round, I was always scared that a moses basket or a lounger would get knocked over. So, we went with a large playpen that had a firm memory foam & sprung mattress from iSafe. It was a life saver. It’s spacious & safe for Ted to nap in. We still have it now. Ted is 15 month old & loves his naps in there. I do allow soft toys in his play pen – purely as I can see him at all times. He doesn’t have toys in his cot bed upstairs. That’s totally free of clutter.

Ted follows the same routine as Seth with regard to when he gets his PJs on, bath time & tea times etc… From 8 weeks old, Ted has pretty much slept from 11pm right through. From around a year old he’s started to go to bed around 8pm, but recently, he’s started asking for bed once Seth has gone up. So, we put Seth to bed, then around 7:30pm, Ted will have a bottle in our room & then goes straight into his room to bed. We put Ted in his cot awake & falls asleep with no problems. We have video monitors on both boys in case they need us in the night. Ted sometimes will wake in the night for a bottle. But it’s literally a quick bottle & straight back to bed.

Ted was in a SnüzPod from birth to 5 month. He outgrew it from 5 month so he transferred to the Joie Kubbie Sleep which is also a side sleeper. He slept in that until he was 10 month old. The he went into his own room into a full size cot bed.

It’s lovely being able to have evenings free. But, being poorly or teething throws the sleeping lark out the window. But that’s just parenting, you have to expect sleepless nights at times.

When we go on holiday, we still follow our bedtime routine. That may sound strict, but Seth still only being 3yrs old, he doesn’t really appreciate a late night as a treat. By 7pm he’s asking for bed as he’s so tired. He’s so active, so he’s ready for his bed. Keeping the routine is constant. We’ve just always kept it up & over time it’s paid off. We’ve taken the boys out at night for meals etc…

I think in the beginning, it can be a bit of a shock to the system at just how much your life does change when you become a parent, but they’re only little for such a short time. Me & Graham met at University & we were together 7 year before we got married. Then we had 5 years together after we got married just us… so we have done the late nights out etc… I think we’re happy being home all snuggly now lol. I’m sure once the boys are packed off to University, we can become party animals again lol.

So there you have it… that’s our bedtime routine. See… I have no hidden secret. It’s just been keeping a good routine in place day in & day out. I hope you’ve found this useful?

Thank you so much reading 🙂

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

 

Parenting Win

Hi folks,

The last 13 month since seems to have flown by & Ted just seems to be hitting all of those first milestone so quickly. I sometimes wish I could just slow down time. Ted is very much a toddler now. He’s no longer my 8lb 4oz newborn baby. He started walking at 10month which still just totally blows me away, Seth walked at just turned 11month old & I thought that was super early.

When Seth made the transition from Bottle to Cup for his water… I remember it taking a little while for him to get used to it. However, with Ted, he has taken to it so well. So much so, that I didn’t even actually introduce him to a cup. He literally just picked up Seth’s 360 Cup one day & started to drink from it lol. So… after hearing this, the lovely folk at Nuby HQ sent Ted his very own 360 cups.

Ted started with the lovely Nuby Wonder Mini 360 Cup. These cups are fab, as they have the little handles on them, so they’re easy for little fingers to be able to grab hold of. I really didn’t have to try with this cup, in introducing it to Ted. He literally just picked it straight up & began using it. He grasped the ‘sucking’ technique so easily.

The 360 cups are super easy to clean too, as every single part comes apart for cleaning. They also come with a lid too, so they’re great for popping in your bag for on the go. You can also buy the replacement inner valve too.

The natural next step from this cup, is to move onto the maxi 360 cup with no handles.

This has been a piece of cake for Ted. He loves his ‘big boy’ cup. I think he feels more like his big brother when he’s using it. He has taken to it so well. These cups are suitable from 6 month. We have bypassed the traditional sippy cups really with Ted, & I think it’s better. This way, he is learning how to drink from more of a proper cup.

Another lovely product we’ve been using is the 3D Silicone Bib.

These bibs are fab! Well let’s face it… anything that cuts down on laundry is a lifesaver in my eyes. These bibs are so durable. And they wipe down so easily… & did I mention that they’re dishwasher safe too!!! The bib has a ‘catch all’ feature which catches all of those pesky flyaway foodie bits. And, while on the go, it easily rolls up to go back into your bag.

The silicone is soft & flexible with an adjustable fastening on the back for around the neck, making this a comfy bib for your little one to wear at mealtimes. It’s not stiff or ‘scratchy’ at all.

Nuby make some gorgeous bath time toys. Seth & Ted have both been having fun playing with the Astronaut Foam Mirror Set. It’s a cute toy as it clings & sticks to the side of the bath & on the tiles. And with the lovely mirror feature, they can see themselves, which Ted always thinks is great fun. Ted has chomped on this bath toy lots & it’s still in perfect condition. Durability is a must in our house lol.

With a Nuby product, you always know that you’re going to get good value for money & good quality products. Perfect for those little stocking fillers!

Thank you as always for reading & I hope you’ve found this review useful!

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative posts – I have received gifting &/or compensation for featuring some of these items, but all opinions are my own.

“Play is our brain’s favourite way of learning” – Diane Ackerman

Hi folks,

Well, we’re now into my most favourite time of the year… CHRISTMAS!!!! Yes… it’s only November, but I don’t care! I’m in full on Christmas count down mode! I’ve put my tree up! I just literally couldn’t help myself!

So… since I’m throwing myself into all things Christmassy… I have a lovely little gift guide blog post for you. The boys have been playing with & reviewing some lovely toys from Hape.

As most of you know… Hape are one of our most favourite toy brands. You just cannot go wrong with good quality, vibrant, wooden toys. I’m such a big believer in learning through play. Apart from when Seth is at Pre-School… we play all day long.

Where to start? Lets start with the lovely Hape Number Peg Puzzle. Seth loves this puzzle. The pegs are easy to get a hold of & the pieces are lovely & vibrant. This is great for number recognition. Seth is doing so well with his numbers… but does get confused with his number 6 & number 9 at times. So playing with this puzzle has helped immensely.

This puzzle is just so well made & is a lovely size. This is recommended for 3yrs & over, so I’ve been careful to keep it out of Teds reach. He’s in that phase of shoving everything in his mouth to bite.

Ted utterly adores his  Pepe & Friends Push & Go Cat.

It has a clever internal mechanism that allows the toy to roll forward when the back is pushed down and released. So he’s had fun pressing it & watching it scoot across the wooden floor in the dining room. Ted just loves anything with wheels. He loves crawling around the floor pushing it around. It’s a lovely sturdy toy this one. If it can withstand some rough play & being thrown around by Ted.. then it can withstand anything lol.

Baby Einstein Colour Mixer. Both boys have LOVED playing with this toy. It’s such a gorgeous clever little toy this one. This lovely toy identifies colours and lights up as you experiment with different colour combinations with the beads. It flashes in a rainbow light show & plays music. You can also switch between music & spoken words which are in both English & French. It’s great as it introduces little ones to colours & helps to encourage motor skill development. 

The pictures really do not do this toy justice. It is absolutely stunning when you see it. In the box, it doesn’t look like much… but it really is a lovely toy. So many fun elements to it. It has kept both boys quiet. And again, it’s very sturdy & well made. So, perfect for little ones.

So, if you’re looking for some gifts & stocking fillers for the little ones – look no further. I’m always blown away with the quality & design of Hape.

Thank you so much for reading & hope you’ve fun this review useful!

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

 

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative posts – I have received gifting &/or compensation for featuring some of these items, but all opinions are my own.

Feeling Comfortable in My Own Skin

Hi folks,

More than ever, we seem to be bombarded with images of picture perfect people… flawless skin… perfect figure… nothing seems to be out of place. I’ve always been a bit of a self conscious person when it comes to how I look. I’m so confident in who I am as a person… but when it comes to how I look… I’m so critical & self conscious.

After having the boys… I have noticed a massive change in my skin. The problem with a change in your skin also effects your make up! So, not only does your skin look & feel different with a naked face, but it also looks & feels different when you’re wearing your make up. Such a nightmare. Especially when you’re already feeling a little self conscious from just having a baby. And… you also have the added pressure of not having oodles of time either to start a brand new in-depth skincare regime!

So… what changed with my skin after pregnancy.

Under my left eye, I developed a little prominent blood vessel. I know it looks small… but to me it looked like a beacon! I think it happened during pregnancy while throwing up so much. I’ve always had a rosy pink complexion & that’s fine as it’s always something I’ve had so I’ve always bought & wore make up that hid it a little. However, after pregnancy I always felt it looked more patchy. And, my cheek area became super dry in areas & under my eyes which meant that my foundation & powder started to clump, which is not a good look. But, my T Zone area became massively oily. This meant that my foundation was clumping in the dry areas & then smearing off in the oily areas. My pores were becoming visible under my makeup in the oily areas, if that makes sense… almost like the inside of an aero bar.

I just do not have the time to spend hours on my skin & make up with a 3yr old & a 10month old to run around after. But… I still want to feel & look good.

Starting on 22nd August… I began using my new products from ESK. I decided to document the results & I’m so glad that I did.

I’ve added dates to the photo’s so you can see how skin has improved.

The areas that I feel have improved; my skin isn’t as greasy, fine lines seem to have improved, no dry patches & I feel like the small blood vessel isn’t as prominent.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/156200586@N06/48775436543/in/dateposted-public/

So… what is my new skincare regime I hear you ask? Well, firstly I can promise you that my new regime is super simple & hardly takes up any time! I am completely in love with the ESK Hydroxy Cleanser. I use the Hydroxy Cleanser morning & night. I wear make up everyday & I do tend to go for a smokey eye look complete with black liquid eyeliner & black mascara. So I need a cleanser that will be gentle, but will also remove every bit of make up. This cleanser does all of that! You use it just like a face wash. The 100ml bottle should last you around 3 months. I’ve never been a fan of cleansers & toners… I always found cleansers to be too greasy & toners to be too harsh, which would end up making me too pink. The hydroxy cleanser, cleanses while being nice & gentle, & it’s also soap free. It doesn’t make me red & I never feel any skin tightness after using, which I’ve always found that I get when using other face washes.

After cleansing on a morning I then use B Quenched. This product can be used at night or morning. I’ve been using each morning & I can honestly say that this moisturiser is my most favourite skin care product EVER! It is absolutely gorgeous! It’s everything I’ve always wanted in a moisturiser. With having an oily T Zone, I always thought other moisturisers used to sit on top of the greasiness. So I’d avoid putting anything on my T Zone. So I’d only end up moisturising my dry cheek area. This products helps to improve the skins barrier function, reducing hyperpigmentation and acting as an anti-inflammatory agent. I think my redness has massively improved. Also, I never knew that when the skin is super oily, it can be a direct result of the skin being too dehydrated. This product helps the skin to retain moisture, but my oilyness has greatly improved. My skin overall just feels less greasy, less dry & looks less red. My make up has been going on so well. I’ve stopped using a primer under my make up as this moisturiser gives such a lovely even base.

My make up isn’t clumping or sitting in lines. It’s also staying put all day… so that alone tells me that my oily skin has improved.

I’ve been using Ultimate A everynight before bed after using my Hydroxy Cleanser. I just want to say first off – that this product is not recommended while pregnant or breastfeeding due to the content of Vitamin A. This product is an amazing anti-aging product. I absolutely love this. I feel like my fine lines around my eyes have reduced. I’m now 37 & fine lines are my main concern. I think we’re all looking for that wonder cream that will make us look a little younger. I have no problem being almost 40… but I also want to look good too. This product promotes collagen growth, increases skin elasticity and reduces hyperpigmentation effectively and without irritation. It’s a lovely light cream, not too heavy or thick. It makes your skin feel so super soft. Again, like the B Quenched – I feel like this product has helped to reduce the redness. Normally after cleansing & moisturising on an evening, my skin would be so red. But I can honestly say, my skin looks calmer.

My 3 stand out products are: Hydroxy Cleanser, B Quenched, & Ultimate A. I honestly feel like I have new & improved skin, with no extra effort. When we feel good about ourselves, I think we can deal with the pressures & stresses of a busy lifestyle so much easier. Another great feature to these products, is that they give you a full run down on how to use them & when to use them. They really feel like a tailor made skincare regime just for you.

I will be continuing to document my skin progress & will be writing a progress post about it 🙂

I hope you’ve found this post useful & interesting. I’ve added the links to the products that I’ve been using so you can read further & even treat yourself.

Thank you so much for reading!

Hayley xxx

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative posts – I have received gifting &/or compensation for featuring some of these items, but all opinions are my own.

Wobble, Wiggle and Grow

Hi folks,

Seth went back to pre-school last week. He was so excited. To be honest… I think he likes the routine of school Monday – Friday. Over the Summer break he has asked a lot for School. It’s so quiet in the house without him now he’s back. But looking at the positives – it gives me some one & one time with Ted.

Ted is 10 month old now… I just cannot believe that he’s going to be a year old next month. That time has flown. I know I always say it – but the time does just fly by. When people said to me that time flies once you have children… I don’t think I really believed them.

Ted has been having so much fun with his new toy from Hape & Baby Einstein. It’s no secret that Hape are one of our most favourite toy brands. We all just adore wooden toys. Ted’s new toy is Balancing Cal. Cal comes in 5 pieces & is a mix of wood & plastic. Some of the pieces make sounds too when you shake them. Fun & musical. The aim of the game is to stack Cal as tall as you can make him, without him falling down. This toy is great for encouraging & developing motor skills.

Each piece has been beautifully crafted & is the perfect size of little hands. Ted has had fun shaking them to make noise, clacking them together & has enjoyed giving them a good old bite lol. Each piece is lovely & smooth with no sharp edges & the materials feel very durable. The colours are stunning too. So vibrant.

Each piece has a different texture to feel too. The balls are perfectly weighted to be able to stack in a wiggly, wobbly way. Ted loves it when they all fall over. It’s really just a lovely little toy that does so much… makes music, rolls, stacks etc…

https://www.flickr.com/photos/156200586@N06/48704127768/in/dateposted-public/

I know some folk think it’s a little too soon to be talking about it… however… Christmas is only around the corner! Balancing Cal would make a fantastic gift.

I’ve added some links for further reading & info on the product.

I hope you’ve found this post useful!

Thanks as always for reading,

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative posts – I have received gifting &/or compensation for featuring some of these items, but all opinions are my own.

Essentials to Make Life Simple

Hi folks,

I can’t believe we’re almost half way through August & the ‘Back to School’ countdown has begun! Seth is so super excited to get back to PreSchool… he asks every day if his teachers are back from their holidays yet bless him lol.

So… along with the usual new uniform & school shoes… he has his trusty favourite backpack!

Seth simply adores his Trendz Robot Backpack from Nuby. It’s the perfect size for our little people. It also has a detachable rein on it too. There’s also side pockets either side, the perfect size for a matching drinks bottle.

The new stainless steel Robo Cups are perfect for School… they keep drinks cool for up to 10hrs! They’re also very durable… Seth has dropped his on concrete several times & it’s left no marks or dints!

Ted is a BIG fan of the Stainless Steel Food jar… perfect for dinners on the go! The contents will stay warm for 5 hours & cool for 7 hrs! Perfect for when you’ve arranged those all important playdates!!!

And where would we be without those all important Catch All Wipeable Bibs!?

In fact… they’re almost good enough to eat lol.

Weaning can be such a tedious time. I have been a lot more relaxed about weaning this time around. When I was weaning Seth I was super stressed all of the time about finger foods. With Ted, everything has just felt more relaxed & laid back. Everything is so much easier though when you have good quality products thats you can trust!

Here’s a little list of some of our new found favourite products:

• Natural Touch Bottle To Cup

This has made independent drinking so easy for Ted. He has taken to this cup so well. It’s great for little sips of water during meal times. I think I may start introducing a 360 cup.

• Stackable Bowls with Lids & Spoons

I love these little bowls. They’re perfect for food storage too when you’ve been making baby food. Also, for feeding when you’re out & about, it’s great being able to pop the lid on to avoid any food spillages in your bag.

• Sure grip Astronaut Mat

This is great for finger foods. It grips fantastically to smooth surfaces, such as your highchair table/tray.

• Sure grip Rocket Bowl

This is such a cute little bowl. The lovely soft texture feel is great for little hands. All of the edges are smooth etc… & I just love that you can stick it down too. It’s that first step toward self feeding.

• Dipeez Spoons 

These lovely spoons have been developed to help with self feeding. The shape & design is perfect for little chubby hands to grip. They also have choke protection guards to reduce gagging and choking.

• Cosmetic Cutlery

Such a perfect first cutlery set. Ted hasn’t gotten round to using these ones yet, but once he’s hit the 12 month mile stone… I’m sure he’ll be using them.

• Garden Fresh Fruitsicles 

I used these fantastic lolly makers with Seth. So you can be assured that they’re long lasting. Ted adores his homemade fruity ice lollies. They’re perfect for sore teething gums. The clever design catches any stray drips & the handle itself is perfect for little hands to grip. They come with a lovely little freezer tray too.

If you head over to the Nuby Website, you can get free delivery when you spend £15 or more & there’s also some Back To School bargains.

We simply adore all of our Nuby products. I love anything that will make day to day life that little bit easier!

We’ve not got long left now of the Summer Holidays… so let’s hope that this weather of ours picks up!

Thanks so much as always for reading!!!

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative posts – I have received gifting &/or compensation for featuring some of these items, but all opinions are my own.

Out and About with Versatrax

Hi folks,

We’ve had such lovely weather for the last few days… I really do hope that this is it now… Summer has finally landed!?

I can’t believe that Seth has completed his first full term of pre-school. I’m so glad that we decided to take early intake with him rather than waiting until September. He has come on so much & his development has been amazing in the last few month.

I love that each day he gets excited for his walk to school with Mammy & Baby Ted. It’s one of the first things he says when he wakes up. Driving whilst doing the school run is so not enjoyable. Parking is a nightmare! We walk too & from school everyday. I think it’s good for kids to walk & to get out in the fresh air, rather than bundled in to a car all of the time. We’re very lucky in that our school is only a very short walk away. It only takes us 10-15mins to get there… depending on how slowly Seth wants to walk lol.

Ted just loves being out & about in a buggy too. We’ve just received the Joie Versatrax. It is absolutely gorgeous.

With Joie you always know you’re going to get safety & quality. But the Versatrax isn’t just reliable & safe… it also has that ‘fancy feel’. It has lots of added little extras that just make it all the more luxurious. The tan leather trims & cup holder – really finish this travel system off perfectly.

I love that this is a sturdy travel system, yet folds so compact. It literally folds down in half. Also, there’s no back breaking manoeuvres or fancy footwork needed to collapse this pram. It’s so simple & quick. I am quite literally the most clumsy person I know, & even I have mastered this easy procedure. A click of the safety switch & you’re pretty much done!

Once folded this pram will stand freely. So it’s perfect if you’re short on space. Also, you won’t need to prop it against your hallway wall. There’s nothing worse than a pram or buggy that doesn’t free stand & has to be propped against your cream walls. It’s also great for if you’re in a restaurant etc… you can fold it & stand it out of the way with ease.

I love that this pram gives you the option of forward or rear facing. Ted is 8 month now & loves to be nosy & look at what’s going on. However, he is teething & it’s been making him a bit upset. Sometimes he likes to rear face when he’s feeling a little under the weather. So the Versatrax gives us that option. It’s so simple to unclip & turn round.

Like all Joie products… the Versatrax is super comfy. We’ve had no complaints from Ted. The seat is comfy & has a nice soft feel. No sharp edges or corners. Everything is finished off beautifully. The seat will fully recline & has a soft touch harness. There’s also calf/leg support too. So your little one can really kick back & relax.

The Versatrax handles beautifully. The push bar is comfy to hold & has a one handed push. Now you all know that one handed push is a big requirement for me. I need to be able to push the pram/buggy with one hand while I’m holding Seth’s hand too. We have 2 busy roads to get across on our school run. So need to have hands available. Also, I’ve been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in my right wrist/hand. Vibrations can really trigger the pain. The Versatrax has lovely foam filled rubber tyres making it a smooth ride for your little one & a comfy one for you while pushing it. There’s hardly no vibration.

There’s also a really big storage basket on the bottom & is very easy to access. A big basket is a must for us, as I just seem to have so much stuff with me all of the time lol.

Here is a list of the features:

• Suitable from birth with flat reclining seat
• Adjustable forward and rearward facing seat
• Pairs perfectly with Joie infant carriers gemm™, i-Gemm™, i-Level™, and i-Snug™ with the included adapters or with other infant carriers using Maxi-Cosi® style attachment
• Pairs perfectly with ramble™ XL carry cot using the included adapters
• One hand easy fold and setup, with seat rearward or forward facing
• Freestanding when folded
• Carry strap built in
• Water repellant canopy
• Full-size UPF50+ canopy with eyeshade visor
• Multi-position recline for backrest tilt options
• 2 position calf support
• Front and back access storage basket
• All wheel suspension for a smooth ride
• Sweet Stride™ single front swivel wheels
• One touch brakes
• SoftTouch, 5-point harness
• Height adjustable pushbar
• Locking front swivel wheels
• Cup holder

This really is a fantastic travel system. If you’re looking for a travel system that you can rely on, look fancy, is great on space & easy to use… then this is the one for you. Travel systems have a reputation for being big & bulky. But this certainly isn’t like that. It’s sturdy, lightweight, easy to use & folds very compact. It really is perfect for everyday family life! It’s going to be great for travel too as it doesn’t take up much space in the car! So look out for my review on how it is on holidays!

Thanks so much for reading & I hope you’ve found this review helpful!

Love & huggles,

Hayley xxx

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative posts – I have received gifting &/or compensation for featuring some of these items, but all opinions are my own.

My Fave Must Haves!

 

Hi folks,

Wowzers… how are we even 7 month into 2019 already!? This year is going by super fast… but then, I’m just super busy 24/7… so no wonder it’s flying by.

Parenting is so much easier, when you’ve got the best parenting must haves to help you! I mean… where would I be without my most fave Joie products!?

In May we had a lovely birthday break in the Yorkshire Dales & then in June we had a lovely little Haven Holiday to Blackpool. For both holidays – we took our Kubbie Sleep with us for Ted. I know I’ve written a review about the Kubbie Sleep already, but I just wanted to say once more – how much we love this travel cot. I so wish we’d had this for when Seth was a baby too. It’s great as it’s a travel cot – but also a side sleeper. Side sleeping has been such a lovely bonding experience for us. We have never co-slept. So having a side sleeper has been the better, more safe option for us. And it’s even better when you can carry on side sleeping while travelling too.

As you can see from Ted’s happy little face… he loves the Kubbie Sleep.

One of the things we love about it, is that it folds down small into it’s little carry bag. It’s so easy to assemble too. There’s nothing worse that a really fiddley travel cot.

It has a lovely thick, firm mattress for your little one to sleep on. The metal poles come apart & collapse easily to fit into the carry bag. The bag is perfect for storage too – it’ll keep your Kubbie Sleep nice & dust free between each use. The mattress can also be removed easily too for playtime & tummy time… Perfect!

This really is the perfect travel companion. You can find my original Kubbie Sleep review here. This really is a must have item when travelling with baby. We tried Ted in a regular travel cot & he would not settle at the mattress just was not firm enough. Yet he settled so quick in the Kubbie Sleep. I cannot recommend this travel cot/side sleeper enough.

Now… It’s no secret that I’m also a massive Joie buggy fan! Let’s Meet Mirus…

The Mirus can be used forward & rear facing by simply moving the push bar. It’s nice to have the option of rear or forward facing. Ted is super nosey… so I do tend to forward face him. But, if he’s a little upset – which he has been recently with teething… it’s nice to be able to see them.

A massive thumbs up from me has to be the anti scuff brake! I hate the fact that all of my shoes get scuffed on the toe from flicking the brake up on most other buggy’s. But the Mirus has the brake on the side of the push bar!!! So with a flick of a switch you can put the brake on & off with your hand. No more scuffed shoes!

The seat fully reclines making it suitable rom birth. There’s an easy to use handle/lever on the back of the seat making it easy to recline if your little one nods off & you want to make them that little bit comfier. I also love that it’s a one hand fold. I am so cack handed & clumsy – it’s unreal… and even I can fold the Mirus with just one hand. It falls into a fold position really easily & automatically locks into position. When folded, it stands upright. Great for storage. We keep ours in our front porch & it just stands neatly against the wall & is so slimline when folded that it doesn’t get in the way.

The basket on the bottom is a great size too… great for carrying your picnic when on days out lol.

I love the large hood – great for Summer days when the sun is shinning.

I use the Mirus every day on the school run as we don’t live too far from school. The Mirus will manoeuvre easily when using only one hand. There’s a few busy roads I need to cross so I need to be able to hold Seth’s hand while I push Ted in the buggy. One handed push is not a problem for the Mirus. You’ll also receive a rain cover as standard too – which is a total must have.

Seth has really taken to holding Ted’s hand actually while he’s in the buggy… so cute.

This pushchair is also fully compatible with Joie 0+ infant carriers… no adaptors needed. So in effect… this would be the only pushchair you’d actually need to buy. So, if you’re on a budget, you could save money on buying big expensive travel systems.

This is such an excellent buggy… lightweight… one handed fold… one handed push… comfy… what’s not to love!? I’ll be taking this buggy away with us too when we travel, so you can expect more updates on it is to travel with.

Thank you as always for reading & I do hope you’ve found this review useful!

Love & Huggles,

Hayley xxx

Disclaimer: This is a collaborative posts – I have received gifting &/or compensation for featuring some of these items, but all opinions are my own.